Ancient Greek and Roman Comedy Overview

Questions and Answers

What is Middle Comedy?

What is a Stock Character?

A stereotyped character in Roman and Greek plays such as pimps, prostitutes, slaves, young lovers, or maids/nurses.

What were ludi scaenici?

Theatrical performances in ancient Rome associated with public games.

What were ludi sollemnes?

A religious festival in ancient Rome involving multiple ceremonies. Signup and view all the answers

What are Ludi Romani/Ludi Magni?

A religious festival in ancient Rome that included multiple ceremonies. Signup and view all the answers

What were Ludi Megalenses?

A festival celebrated in Ancient Rome from April 4 to April 10 in honor of Cybele. Signup and view all the answers

What does munera refer to in ancient Rome?

Public works provided for the benefit of the Roman people. Signup and view all the answers

What are ludi circenses?

Circus games including chariot races, animal hunts, and gladiator games. Signup and view all the answers

What is instauratio?

Religious rites of the festival that required a performance to start over if an error occurred. Signup and view all the answers

What are fabulae crepidatae?

Roman tragedies with a Greek theme. Signup and view all the answers

What are fabulae praetextae?

Dramas based on Roman subjects. Signup and view all the answers

What are fabulae palliatae?

Stories told wearing Greek dress. Signup and view all the answers

What are fabulae togatae?

Roman-themed comedies. Signup and view all the answers

What does contamination mean in the context of Roman theater?

Translating a Greek play while incorporating scenes from another Greek play. Signup and view all the answers

What is a tibia?

A two-ended flute similar to the Greek aulos. Signup and view all the answers

Who is an actor in ancient Rome?

The producer of the play who likely commissioned it. Signup and view all the answers

What does grex/greges mean?

Actors as lead by the main actor. Signup and view all the answers

What is stoicism?

Resistance to emotions, especially negative ones. Signup and view all the answers

Name one work of Euripides.

Bacchae. Signup and view all the answers

Name a work by Aeschylus.

Prometheus Bound. Signup and view all the answers

Name a play written by Sophocles.

Ajax. Signup and view all the answers

Name a work by Aristophanes.

Women in Power. Signup and view all the answers

Name a play by Menander.

Woman of Samos. Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable work by Terence?

Adelphoe. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of Plautus' famous works?

Rudens. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Middle Comedy

A transitional phase of ancient Greek comedy that followed Old Comedy and preceded New Comedy.
Characterized by less political satire and more focus on social relationships.

Stock Character

Stereotypical figures commonly found in Roman and Greek plays.
Examples include pimps, prostitutes, slaves, young lovers, and maids/nurses.

Ludi scaenici

Theatrical performances in ancient Rome associated with public games.
Initially introduced during Ludi Romani, with the first Latin tragedies and comedies presented in 240 BC.
Became a hallmark of the Megalensia festival, celebrating the goddess Cybele, established in 204 BC.
Originally featured serious dramas but shifted towards farces and pantomimes under the Roman Empire.

Ludi sollemnes

A religious festival in ancient Rome consisting of multiple ceremonies, held from September 12 to September 14.
Extended to September 5 to September 19, with an additional day for Julius Caesar starting in 1st century BC.
Introduced Greek drama to the Roman theatrical tradition.

Ludi Romani/Ludi Magni

A prominent religious festival in ancient Rome that included various ceremonies known as ludi.
Established in 366 BC, originally held from September 12 to September 14, later extended.

Ludi Megalenses

Festival celebrated in ancient Rome from April 4 to April 10 in honor of Cybele, referred to as Magna Mater.
The term "Megalensia" derives from the Greek word for "Great."
Included games or entertainments associated with the religious festivities.

Munera

Public works in ancient Rome provided by wealthy and high-status individuals for the benefit of the community.
The term signifies a duty or obligation to contribute to society.

Ludi circenses

Refers to "circus games" encompassing chariot races, animal hunts, gladiator games, and athletic competitions.

Instauratio

Religious rites undertaken during festivals; includes ritual performances to correct errors in a play, requiring a restart of the performance the next day.

Fabulae Crepidatae

Roman tragedies based on themes and stories from Greek literature.

Fabulae praetextae

Dramas centered on Roman subjects, named for the distinct Roman garment worn by the characters.

Fabulae palliatae

Stories performed in Greek costumes, reflecting Greek cultural influences on Roman theater.

Fabulae togatae

Roman-themed comedies known primarily through fragments of text.

Contamination

A literary technique where Romans translated a Greek play and integrated scenes from different Greek playwrights into the narrative.

Tibia

A two-ended flute similar to the Greek aulos, used in ancient musical traditions.

Actor

The producer of the play who likely commissioned the performance.

Grex/greges

Refers to the group of actors, often led by a central actor.

Stoicism

A philosophy promoting emotional resilience, especially concerning negative emotions.
Seneca focused on anger as an irrational and revenge-driven response, disconnecting it from reason.

Euripides

Notable works include Bacchae (405 BCE), Cyclops (411-405 BCE), Medea, and Iphigenia in Aulis (405 BCE).

Aeschylus

Key works include Prometheus Bound (479-424 BCE) and Persians (472 BCE).

Sophocles

Renowned for plays such as Ajax (440s BCE) and Trackers.

Aristophanes

Renowned comedies include Women in Power (393-391 BCE) and Frogs (405 BCE).

Menander

Known for the play Woman of Samos (317-307 BCE).

Terence

Famous for Adelphoe (160 BCE), performed at the funeral of Lucius Aemilius Paullus.

Plautus

Known for the play Rudens (190-185 BCE), integrating comedic elements into Roman theater.

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Description

Explore the nuances of ancient Greek and Roman comedy in this quiz. Learn about the transition from Middle Comedy to New Comedy, the role of stock characters, and the significance of Ludi scaenici and Ludi sollemnes. Test your knowledge on these key elements and their cultural implications.